EFF STATEMENT ON LIFTING OF TEMPORARY BAN ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL Saturday, 04 May 2024.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) announces the lifting of the temporary ban imposed on our YouTube channel in response to our solidarity with Palestine. Our platform was banned for a week after a company based in the United Kingdom — the Oxford Union Society lodged a formal complaint on YouTube against the EFF, falsely categorising us as a violent criminal organisation due to our stance on the genocide being perpetrated by the apartheid state of Israel.
As a result of this baseless complaint, YouTube has requested the removal of any content related to Israel and Palestine from our channel. Unfortunately, this means footage of our protest outside the Israel embassy has been taken down. While we have appealed the decision, regrettably, our appeal has been rejected, highlighting the bias and censorship prevalent in platforms that claim to uphold freedom of expression.
We must recognise that the temporary ban on our YouTube channel is not an isolated incident but part of a larger, coordinated effort to silence and censor those who dare to speak out against the injustices perpetrated by Israel. There exists a massive international campaign aimed at shutting down dissent and stifling voices of conscience.
In light of this temporary setback, we wish to inform our supporters and viewers that the podcast episode scheduled for this week will now be uploaded next Friday. Furthermore, we have resumed livestreaming for all our programs to ensure that our audience can continue to engage with our content and stay informed about the activities of the organisation.
Finally, the EFF will continue to stand in solidarity with the millions of people across the world who are engaged in various forms of organising and protest to demand an end to the occupation of Palestine. Our commitment to justice and the rights of the oppressed remains resolute, and we will continue to lend our voice to the global call for an end to the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people.
Statement issued by Sixolise Gcilishe, EFF Elections Spokesperson, 4 May 2024
